Archives for New Beginnings Category\

To Blog or Not to Blog

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

 

I have found that blogging is not as easy as I though t it would be. Forgive me for not keeping up with this ministry as I ought (uh you 2 or 3 who follow me). I have found that I can do some good things here, like sharing my faith, my struggles, my needs of heart and soul. And by giving insight from some of my life experiences, I might be of help to fellow strugglers on the way.

Blogging is so new and I’m so old (cultrue wise – stop laughing) But I do want to keep trying to reach out to all any where who have a desire to know more about God and God’s love for humanity. I will willingly put myself out there for the Gospel and for you. I think that is the message of the Gospel to love each other to Jesus Christ.

There is a benefit for me … I get to feel the love of others strugglers on the way. I was told by one of my dear friends I can see the need you have for love in your blogs and it is so cool to see honesty from one who is suppose to have it all together. I promise you honesty for sure.

I have finished the Seven Deadly Sin series … you can see this on line at www.mcdfirst.org I covet your comments. After a two week vactiaon and the blessing of relaxation, new friends made, family time I am ready to get on to the next series RETHINK CHURCH. I will try to keep you up with it  here but it is best to come to the worship celebrations t McDonough First.

Thanks for understanding my ramblings today and here we go to Year 5 at McDonough and Year 2 on line with you my brothers and sisters

Love you so much

Dana

Posted in Feelings, New Beginnings, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Fare Thee Well

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

I was blessed and honored to speak at the Baccalaureate for Ola High School on Sunday afternoon. I have never had such and honor and was bursting with pride (holy pride) throughout the event.

I remembered 32 years ago crowded into the gym of the Brandon Senior High School. Our orchestra played and the special group Aquila sang. The message was delivered by my pastor at the time Rev. Robert Chapman. It was a thrill all around, my friends were performing, singing and my pastor … my church preaching. The gym was overflowing with parents and students (the class was 1,000 strong) and the excitement in the air was also overflowing. I cried (OK I was a sap then just as I am now … but believe it or not I loved high school and my friends).

As I entered the sanctuary of Bethany Baptist on Sunday I was filled again with the same excitement only this time for my son who is to graduate from Ola on Friday evening and for the other 500 students and families in attendance. For you see this is a mile stone of life. Yes, we have kindergarten graduations and fifth grade graduations but this folks is the real thing; it means something very important. The baccalaureate is the religious blessing from God upon each graduating senior as they enter the “real world”. For some that real world will be college and for other it will be the work force. God’s blessings and guidance is needed desperately at this juncture.

I tried to remind the students and their families that no matter where they headed there were in God’s presence and care. I told them that God would never leave them nor forsake them and that they were the light of the world, so they needed to shine always because they were in God’s presence.

I think that maybe was what Brother Bob preached on 32 years ago, I’m not sure but I know I have never felt alone these 32 years as I moved forward into God’s big bold world.

You know maybe you need to remember you are in God’s presence and God will never let you go; no matter how bad it might get. Maybe it is time for us all to graduate … another mile stone and live each day knowing we are in His presense.

Congratulations to the class of 2010 and especially to all the folks at Ola High School who had to put up with me tears, fears, joys, excitement and all. Fare thee well as you go with God!

Grace and peace,

Dana

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Yes a Cross but more beyond

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

There is an old story from Italy that goes something like this …

There was once a holy shrine created in a small Italian village to resemble the stations of the cross and Christ last day. One only had to take the path of the shrine and they could relive the walk of Christ to Calvary. Many people would gather at Holy Week to walk the shrine. In fact hundreds would come each year to pray and sing and cry at the foot of the cross.

One year a man came and followed the route stopped and prayed at every station of the cross and finally arrived at the Cross of Calvary shrine itself. He knelt and prayed and he sought the power of God. As he lifted his head he noticed and overgrown path behind the cross. It appeared to be a unused road that lead to something he could not see. He began to beat back the brush with a stick and make his way to the paths end. At the end stood another shrine … unforgotten and seldom thought of; it was the shrine of the Empty Tomb.

So often we get so consumed by the cross; and rightly so but we forget that it was not the end. The empty tomb lays a head of us and we must never forget that the story doesn’t end on Good Friday … it begins! On Easter Sunday we celebrate a hole in the ground. We celebrate because our despair — no matter how deep is moved to hope.

Yes we are crazy people … celebrating a hole in the ground but what a reason to celebrate, because for us crazy people He lives!

Grace and peace

Posted in Feelings, New Beginnings | 1 Comment »

A New Adventure

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

OK here we go!

Yes, another adventure in life. I am now going to try and do video blogging at the suggestion of my good friend and IT guru Jamie. Why you ask? Because we are trying to do anything that will allow us to celebrate and share the unconditional love of Jesus Christ with all who can hear; with all who are curious, with all who might stumble upon this medium as they are surfing the web.

It is our hope to catch people’s attention. Yes, to catch their attention and invite them to our church but more so to catch it and invite them to consider Jesus Christ as friend, as, helper, as Lord, and as Savior. Whatever it takes to get that up and running I am willing to do it.

I know I’m not much to look at (I’ve seen myself on our TV broadcast) but it isn’t about me, it is about Jesus and what I can do to help other people see Him and know just how powerful His love is toward them.

Hey, this is why we started going on TV, started an Internet Church by way of USTREAM, started Children’ Church and why we started the 942 Connector meeting in The Rodgers Center Gym at 9:42 each Sunday … to attract people to Christ. It has its fun moments and it has it frustrating moments. But again it is not about us … it is about Jesus and getting the word out there the He loves you unconditionally.

I hope you will pray for me as I attempt this weekly video blogging and keeping up this blog and all the new techno stuff I’m trying to learn. I hope you will pray for the new adventures our church is stepping into. I hope to see you on the adventure with me!

Grace and peace today to each of you.

Dana

Posted in New Beginnings, The Church | No Comments »

Conference

Friday, June 19th, 2009

I have just returned from the North Georgia Annual Conference and had a blast. Who would have thought that the annual “business” meeting of the United Methodist Church could lift the spirits of the preacher? It did. I was reminded of my call of why God has faith in me and of the support of my many sisters and brothers in the clergy.

I have come away from Athens with a renewed and refreshed sense of service and of call. I’m excited to be a UMC pastor and preach grace and love and peace to ALL of God’s children. I’m excited to about serving year number 4 at McDonough First UMC the greatest church in our Annual Conference. I’m totally pumped and ready to do all I can to empower the church through radical hospitality, passionate worship, risk taking missions, generous giving and faith development. I want everyone to be as excited and pumped as me.

All this because of an old business meeting where God just happened to be. No it was by chance it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that God was there in the worship, the ordination, the communion, the memorial service, the voting and debating and even in the reading of the appointments.

So what do you think we should do in this new year??? I love to hear from you and as you write please pray that God will use me in a great way for God’s kingdom and for McDonough First.

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Number 1

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

the bloggerToday, I am beginning to Blog. Yep, I’m trying to come into the 21st Century. I think change is important and keeping up with the time is vital especially with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So here I am. I hope to post weekly blogs of a helpful nature. You are welcome to comment or not comment. I only ask that your comments be made in love as I’m understanding that older I get the more sensitive I am getting (LOL). Some of you may say, “He’s just getting that fact?” Ok you may have something there but my sensitivity is a part of who I am and after 40 so years (ok 48 years 358 days) I am accepting myself. But I know I can change; just like this blogging.

Pray for me as I seek to reach out with love and with the heart of Christ. I will pray for you every day … all day long as I move in and out of my task.

Grace and peace,

Dana

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